Fetal intestinal loop dilatation: Follow-up and outcome of a series of 133 consecutive cases (the DILDIG study)

Objectives

To define the prognostic markers of fetal dilated bowel loops.

Methods

National non-interventional study of 133 consecutive prenatal observations of dilated loops including ultrasound examinations, complementary laboratory tests, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), outcomes, and postnatal diagnosis.

Results

One hundred twenty seven cases were classified according to outcome: Group 1, very severe (n = 43), Group 2, children needing specific care (n = 39), and Group 3, healthy children (n = 45). Prenatal ultrasound scan suggested duodenal obstruction in 30 cases, small bowel obstruction in 81, colonic obstruction in 11, and diffuse dilatation in 5. Diameter of dilated loops did not significantly differ between the groups. A poor prognosis was significantly associated with duodenal obstruction, genetic anomalies (53% vs. 21.8%), including aneuploidies or CFTR gene mutations and abnormal amniotic fluid biochemistry (86.4% vs. 38.7%). A good prognosis was associated with regression of dilatation and normal MRI.

Conclusion

In this study, postnatal outcomes for fetuses with intestinal dilatation were best predicted by assessing the level of obstruction with prenatal ultrasound and MRI, determining the presence of associated malformations, amniotic fluid biochemical and genetic testing, and monitoring for regression of bowel dilatation. These results should help inform future guidelines on the prenatal and neonatal management of congenital intestinal obstruction.     

Exploring micromycetes biodiversity for screening benzo[a]pyrene degrading potential

Twenty-five strains of filamentous fungi, encompassing 14 different species and belonging mainly to Ascomycetes, were tested for their ability to degrade benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in mineral liquid medium. The most performing isolates for BaP degradation (200 mg?l^?1) in mineral medium were Cladosporium sphaerospermum with 29 % BaP degradation, i.e., 82.8 μg BaP degraded per day (day^?1), Paecilomyces lilacinus with 20.5 % BaP degradation, i.e., 58.5 μg BaP day^?1, and Verticillium insectorum with 22.3 % BaP degradation, i.e., 64.3 μg BaP day^?1, after only 7 days of incubation. Four variables, e.g., biomass growth on hexadecane and glucose, BaP solubilization, activities of extracellular- and mycelium-associated peroxidase, and polyethylene glycol degradation, were also studied as selective criteria presumed to be involved in BaP degradation. Among these variables, the tests based on polyethylene glycol degradation and on fungal growth on hexadecane and glucose seemed to be the both pertinent criteria for setting apart isolates competent in BaP degradation, suggesting the occurrence of different mechanisms presumed to be involved in pollutant degradation among the studied micromycetes.     

Water Development Strategy as a Driving Force for Sustained Rangeland Management by Local Communities in Sub-Saharan Africa

Water is the major food component for the maintenance of animals. Although Africa is endowed with diverse agricultural environments, the survival of animals in Sahelian and sub-Sahelian Africa is threatened by the lack of water. Animals need water as an essential nutrient, a component of the body, and for conductive or evaporative cooling. Water needs are met mainly through drinking free water and to a lesser extent by utilising water that forms part of the feed. However during the long dry season, surface water resources dwindle and the water content of available forage decreases, thereby increasing the animals’ demand for water. Consequently animals have to walk for long distances to obtain adequate forage and water, which in turn raises the demand for these resources. Water can be used to direct and regulate rangeland management in this open access environment, to maintain range resources and to improve their quality. Water development, which takes into consideration usable forage, despite some intra- or inter-annual variability, plays an important role and its spatial distribution will affect the grazing intensity of forage resources. Sound water development and management strategies integrating local communities in the decision-making will set up a firm basis for sustained range management in the free and open access environment of sub-Saharan Africa where lack of financial input, social and cultural habits and above all the environmental condition do not permit large scale fencing as in other parts of the world.